Field Hockey

Lloyd's Overtime Goal Lifts Bears Past Vermont, 2-1, in Season-Opener

PROVIDENCE, RI - Junior Samantha Lloyd (Shavertown, PA) knocked in the rebound of a shot from senior Brooke Townsend (Stamford, CT) midway through the first overtime to lift the Brown field hockey team (1-0) to a 2-1 come-from-behind win over visiting Vermont (1-3) on Sunday afternoon at Warner Roof. The victory avenges Brown's 3-2 overtime loss to the Catamounts from September of last year.

Vermont wasted little time in taking a 1-0 lead, scoring on one of the two penalty corners it had during the first 35:00. Nikki Desch slipped the ball past Brown's Kristen Hodavance (Emmaus, PA) at 9:48 of the first half after a scramble in front of the net to give the Catamounts the early lead.

However, the Bears picked up the pace of play and were awarded a penalty stroke with less than 15 minutes remaining in the first half. Senior Kristen Vincent (Glens Falls, NY), who led the Bears with 15 points last year, lifted the ball into the top of the net on the stroke, tying the game at 1-1.

Neither team could score during the remaining 49:51, setting up the 7 vs. 7 overtime. The Bears dominated the second half, outshooting Vermont, 8-2, during the final 35:00 of regulation. However, the strong play of Vermont's Ariel Eber in net prevented Brown from pulling away, and the two teams headed for a sudden-victory overtime.

Both teams had opportunities in the extra period, with Hodavance stopping two great Vermont scoring chances early in overtime. At the other end of the field, freshman Sara Eaton (Arlington, VA) narrowly missed the game-winning goal, when her shot went behind Eber, but a Vermont player made a great defensive save to keep the Catamounts alive. On the ensuing corner, Townsend sent a rocket on net, which Eber saved, but the rebound bounced out to Lloyd, who knocked the ball in for the Brown victory.

Hodavance recorded six saves in net for Brown, which outshot Vermont 21-11. The Bears continue their five-game homestand next weekend when they host Dartmouth on Saturday, September 10, at 12:00 noon in their 2005 Ivy League opener.